Simulation of islanding in distribution networks

Abstract

By spreading the renewable distributed energy resources (DERs) the operation of distribution networks during outages must be re-considered. Actual network operation regulations do not support the utilization of autonomous capabilities of microgrids and DERs under disturbances, as in the case of voltage problems and short circuits of MV lines distributed generation units must be switched off until the clearing of the fault. Thus, supplying local consumers during outages of the distribution network by islanding is not possible. However, by maintaining the service in a part of the MV/LV network critical consumers should not be interrupted, and SAIDI indices also could be decreased. Actual paper describes simulation studies investigating different operational modes, including islanding in a large scale Network Training Simulator (NTS), modelling a MV network with connected microgrids, storage units and renewable generating units. The main objective of the simulation is to define the technical requirements of islanding, the necessary co-ordination between MV restoration and distributed generation, the needed control system actions performed by Distribution Management System (DMS), Active Network Management (ANM) and microgrid regulators in order to develop new restoration strategies.